It was not until everyone had gone far away that Eunuch Fu let out a heavy sigh and said, "I really didn’t expect Lu Yuan to leave behind such a trump card."
Even if the Jinyi Guard had arrived today, they might not have been able to snatch anyone away from the Imperial Guard. But it had to be the Old Lady—
"No wonder he dared to go up the mountain alone; he had calculated that the Old Lady would co looking for him."
No, he didn’t just calculate it; he had planned everything from the very beginning.
Eunuch Fu couldn’t help but think of the forr Chu Grand Marshal. On the battlefield, Chu Grand Marshal was ticulous and left nothing to chance. The difference was, Chu Grand Marshal was only good at war and abandoned all cunning once he left the battlefield.
But as for Lu Yuan, no matter where he was, he was calculating all the ti. Anyone could be used by him—his confidante, the Old Lady, even himself.
The Old Lady’s group exited the temple.
On the way up the mountain, it was Tan’er who carried the Old Lady on her back. Tan’er was practically like a rocket, terrifying the Old Lady. On the descent, the Old Lady refused to let the little wild girl carry her again.
This ti, Lu Yuan carried her.
Lu Yuan walked steadily, and the Old Lady, lying on his back, soon fell asleep.
She was truly worn out after spending the entire night searching for her prospective great-grandson-in-law.
ng Qianqian and Lu Yuan remained silent, hardly exchanging words on the way down, while Tan’er chattered away incessantly—complaining about mosquitoes one mont and asking about the monk beside Eunuch Fu the next, wondering why so many Imperial Guards listened to him.
ng Qianqian explained to her that he was the Supre Emperor.
Tan’er’s almond-shaped eyes widened in astonishnt. "So he’s the Supre Emperor, huh! But how does he have such a tiny son?"
She was referring to the youthful Emperor Zong Zhengxi.
The Supre Emperor was of the sa generation as Lu Lingxiao’s grandfather, yet he appeared much more vigorous and youthful than his actual age.
ng Qianqian said, "Historically, emperors have three palaces and six courtyards. His Majesty is the youngest son of the Supre Emperor, so it’s not all that surprising."
Tan’er pursed her lips and tried hard to digest ng Qianqian’s words. "Alright then."
"How did you find your way to the temple?" ng Qianqian asked Tan’er.
Tan’er spread her hands and replied, "Grandma and I were wandering around town. After going ho, I found out you weren’t there, so I asked where you had gone. They said you went to the temple, so I ca here with Brother Wu to find you. Grandma insisted on tagging along, so I had to bring her!"
As they spoke, the group reached the foot of the mountain, where two horse-drawn carriages were parked in an open area.
Steward Cen and Brother Wu waited beside the carriages.
Seeing all four of them descend the mountain unscathed, Steward Cen let out a long breath of relief. Heaven knew—when the Imperial Guards charged up the mountain, he had been so tense that sweat drenched his clothes.
Brother Wu, unaware that the Imperial Guards had co to trap the "young master," hadn’t been nervous like Steward Cen. He had only worried that the dark mountain paths might cause the young maid and young master to stumble.
Now that everyone was safe and sound, his concerns proved unnecessary.
The group boarded Brother Wu’s carriage, which had been specially prepared by Steward Cen for ng Qianqian—it was spacious and comfortable.
The Old Lady snored as she slept, while Tan’er, initially still chatting away, suddenly went quiet.
Just like Treasure Piggy, she had a remarkable ability to sleep anywhere at any ti.
ng Qianqian pulled a thin blanket from inside the carriage and gently covered the two of them.
She kept thinking about everything that had transpired. The Pri Minister had returned to the capital for less than three days, and the Supre Emperor had already been "released." This was likely just the beginning; all of Lu Yuan’s evils seed to be on the verge of facing judgnt and resolution under the Pri Minister’s influence.
With his triumphant return after pacifying the Western Regions, the Pri Minister had not only brought back military accolades but also reignited hopes for eradicating corruption, seeking justice, and bringing peace and fairness to the land—for officials and commoners alike.
The Pri Minister’s rallying call would surely be t with reverence by the courtiers and support from the populace.
"So that’s how it is," ng Qianqian exhaled deeply. "Grand Commander, may I ask you a few questions?"
"Speak."
"Let think about which one to ask first." ng Qianqian paused briefly. "Grand Commander, was it my great-grandmother who requested my annulnt imperial decree?"
Lu Yuan replied, "Correct."
ng Qianqian: "Grand Commander, you knew about this early on?"
Lu Yuan responded coldly, "Without my approval, that decree would never have made it down the mountain."
ng Qianqian had already guessed this and was rely seeking verbal confirmation. Thus, her reaction wasn’t overly surprised. "So, Grand Commander, you knew from that mont that the Supre Emperor held the Old Lady in high regard. Tonight, as long as the Old Lady showed up, there was a high chance she could take you down the mountain."
Lu Yuan didn’t deny it and said, "So what if that’s the case? I’ve warned you before—I use everyone, including the Old Lady. Marrying into her family and deliberately pleasing her was all for the purpose of using her at critical monts."
ng Qianqian shook her head. "Grand Commander, must you always wrap your sincerity in pretense of manipulation just to put yourself at ease? One day, when my great-grandmother regains her clarity and rembers who she is, she might no longer want you. When that happens, you can tell yourself, ’I was only using this old woman; it’s natural for her to leave.’"
"Hmph."
Lu Yuan turned away in irritation.
ng Qianqian thought about how different she and Lu Yuan were. Her family had given her unconditional love and adoration. As a result, when family mbers died one after another before her eyes, she suffered imnse pain and grief, and she went mad with the desire for revenge.
Her current calmness wasn’t genuine—it was only a cover for the fla of vengeance burning within her.
Despite losing her loved ones, she wasn’t afraid to embrace new connections.
Lu Yuan was the opposite; he didn’t dare to accept anyone as true family from the depths of his heart.
Was the pain and despair caused by family too overwhelming for him?
In the latter part of the night, the carriage arrived at the Governor Mansion.
Lu Yuan spoke, "Didn’t you say you had multiple questions?"
ng Qianqian smiled faintly. "I’ve already found the answer to the other question; there’s no need to ask it anymore."
Saying this, she gently shook Tan’er. "Tan’er, we’re here."
"We’re here..." Tan’er groggily stood up, only to tumble headfirst out of the carriage.
Fortunately, Lu Yuan pulled her up quickly, or else the girl would’ve fallen flat on her face and ended up looking like a piglet.
"Huh," Tan’er rubbed her eyes, puzzled, and asked, "Grand Commander, why didn’t I see anyone wielding sabers? The Imperial Guard ca to capture you—where’s the action?"
This was exactly the second question ng Qianqian had wanted to ask Lu Yuan.
The Imperial Guard’s movent was too significant to escape the notice of the Jinyi Guard, yet neither Shangguan Ling nor any of the Jinyi Guard had shown up.
Even Qing Shuang and Yu Zichuan were absent.
There could only be one explanation—they were allies of the Pri Minister, or soon would be.
A dark, shadowy alley.
Shangguan Ling rested his hand on the Brocade Spring Saber at his waist and said to Yu Zichuan, "Swear allegiance to the Pri Minister. Whatever you desire, the Pri Minister can provide. The Grand Commander is also his man. Isn’t it better to serve a more powerful master?"
Yu Zichuan looked at Qing Shuang, who was standing beside Shangguan Ling. "Are you also one of the Pri Minister’s people?"
Qing Shuang: "I’m sorry."
Yu Zichuan said, "This ti, I can’t be with you."
Qing Shuang looked at Yu Zichuan. "Then let go with you."
Shangguan Ling was taken aback. "Qing Shuang?"
Qing Shuang decisively moved to Yu Zichuan’s side and drew her sword, pointing it at Shangguan Ling. "Master Shangguan, will you let us leave, or do we have to defeat you before we can go?"
Shangguan Ling suppressed his shock and sighed heavily. "Go ahead. I’ll report to the Pri Minister that you two are useless and unworthy of serving him. But one day, you’ll understand—everything the Pri Minister does is for the Great Zhou, for the dynasty’s stability, and for the welfare of the people!"
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